The Postclassical World: Western Europe Essay

The Postclassical World: Western Europe Essay

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In regard to the rest of the postclassical world, Western Europe was well behind politically, economically and technologically. It chose to adapt the advancements of other civilizations rather than creating its own. Yet because of their geographical position and lack of political unity, Western Europe was not required to be as advanced as the rest of the postclassical world. Instead, Western Europe was defined by a desire to emulate the Roman Empire, Christian authority, learning and philosophy and political and economical systems based on relations between different classes.
Throughout the majority of the postclassical period in Western Europe, there was really only one major empire, under Charlemagne. At the height of this empire, he was given the title of Roman Emperor by the pope, one step in completing his quest to recreate the powerful Roman Empire. In Document 5, he is described by his closest friend as sending his children to learn liberal arts, and when they came of age, for the boys to learn the art of war and the girls to learn cloth making. This would suggest that he was attempting to educate his sons so that they might be able to carry on his empire. He is also described as filling the treasury of the Holy Roman Church “with a vast wealth of gold, silver and precious stones.” This was suggest that he is doing what he can to help the religion Roman Empire, another step on his quest to bring it back. In regards to drinking in the Western Europe during the postclassical period, Document 14 also says that “the consensus was that alcohol was necessary to maintain good health, while the consumption of water was absolutely dangerous.” This is a view originally adopted in the Roman Empire when wine was made in abundance and ...

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...t any other counsel, and without armor saving staves and knives,” and were able to overthrow and kill royal families so that they “fled ten or twenty leagues to be in surety.” Because of the lack of a central government and technology, the government of Western Europe crumbled at the hands of a disease, showing its disadvantage in regards to other postclassical societies.
Western Europe was lucky to remain in operation through the way they were operating during the postclassical period. It was only because of the disinterest of other postclassical civilizations that it survived. Because of this though, they were also able to partially bring back the Roman Empire and make significant progress in the relationship between theology and philosophy. The Black Death, though, made certain that these advancements would not continue to happen under manorialism and feudalism.

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